Senior Program Manager - Entrepreneurship programmes

AMI is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Programme Manager to oversee the end-to-end quality project delivery of some of our highest profile and most innovative pan-African entrepreneurship programmes. This is a chance for an outstanding entrepreneurial leader to pioneer the next frontier of entrepreneur development in Africa and be part of Africa’s transformation, and to help shape, build and scale one of its most innovative social businesses.

The Senior Programme Manager will be part of the team implementing partner-based programmes under the AMI Impact unit. You will be a key player in a dynamic, global team focused obsessively on results. The role will report to the head of implementation or depending on the nature of the assigned programmes. 

The Senior Programme Manager must be a driven, organized, tech-savvy professional with great people and project-management skills, the ability to lead complex programmes with very senior management participants, and to interface with experienced and influential client partners and stakeholders. In addition, the Senior Programme Manager must collaborate with and influence internal teams to ensure exceptional delivery. This particular programme's role is expected to play a leading role in solutions design for entrepreneurship, so we seek an individual who brings both programme management experience and program design/ design thinking/ impact consulting experience - specifically in the African entrepreneur development ecosystem.

The Senior Programme Manager will play a key role in joining the dots between our world-class content and their client on the ground. 

Programme Management

• Lead project implementation end to end, from planning, budget monitoring, monitoring programme outcomes, and reporting.
  

• Manage stakeholders and participants in complex programmes and ensure that programme deliverables are met within stringent timelines while identifying stakeholders' and participants' pain points and proactively communicating resolutions.
  

• Lead the project team, co-ordinating team member activities to ensure world class client and delegate experience
  

• Ensure on time delivery of all project milestones
  

• Problem solve challenges and proactively identify resolutions
  

• In collaboration with the M&E team, capture project outcomes/impact and lessons learned and share with internal and external programme stakeholders
  

• Maintain accurate programme data and analyse programme data and feedback to ensure core programme metrics and targets are being met (adapt as necessary)
  

• Identify programme risks at the start of the programme, and ensure programme risks are effectively managed.
  

• Liaise with clients throughout learning programs to ensure programs run smoothly and issues are dealt with in a timely manner
  

• Hold the responsibility of managing programme budget and reporting on the programme's financials- with support of the finance team, prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual project budgets and align project budget with stakeholders.
  

Stakeholder management

• Build, maintain and own robust relationships with external stakeholders, including financial institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and other partners
  

• Lead in project activity delivery and ensure relevant stakeholders are updated and notified of all project activities - keeping them informed of requirements, key context, and changes, and problem solving collaborative
  

• Manage external consultants who provide specific expertise or logistical support on various programme components to support programme delivery
  

Strategic oversight and business development

• Make connections between programmatic activities and outcomes and the strategic objectives of this initiative - for the client  and AMI
  

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure programmes have impact and are valued by clients: Evaluate core learning outcomes and metrics within learning programmes and work with internal teams to advise on the adaptation of design and delivery to resolve issues in real-time.
  

• Co-write, edit and sign off on client reporting, ensuring alignment to developed M&E framework
  

• Contribute to M&E framework iterations
  

• Hold responsibility for ongoing client satisfaction and programme renewal
  

Innovation and Product Development:

• Collaborate very closely with the Innovation and Product development teams, leading solutions design sprints relevant to the projects in focus. For this work an Agile methodology will be applied - Agile experience is beneficial but training can be provided if needed, so this is not mandatory.
  

• Lead and manage complex development projects that involve substantial innovation and product development aspects.
  

• Education: Undergraduate degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
  

• Experience: Minimum 8+ years of work experience, ideally within fast-growing and dynamic environments.
  

• Domain Expertise: Strong understanding of the African entrepreneurship landscape with proven experience in entrepreneur development and SME growth programming.
  

• Project Management: Demonstrated success managing complex projects; strong project planning ability with proficiency in relevant tools/systems. Project management training and/or agile methodology experience is an added advantage.
  

• Relationship Management: High gravitas and excellent stakeholder management skills; highly relational with the ability to build and sustain trust across diverse networks.
  

• Technical & Analytical Skills: Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to anticipate risks, identify challenges in advance, and develop proactive solutions.
  

• Languages: Bilingual proficiency in English and French is a plus, but not required.
  

• A high-impact, diverse and ambitious team with common values: 
  

• Be the best: We work really hard, are proud of what we do, and love delighting our clients with quality.
  

• Own it: We step up to the task, never pass the buck and hold ourselves accountable for delivering results.
  

• Push the limits: We ask why, embrace failure and try new things. We never settle.
  

• Do what’s right: We act with integrity, confront dishonesty, treat people fairly and strive to contribute to the greater good
  

• Always care: We don’t have ego – it’s always ‘team before me’. We are kind, we celebrate each other’s success, and we care enough to give honest feedback.
  

• A dynamic office & team life:
  

• Brand new offices in Westlands, Nairobi
  

• Monthly team social events and yearly offsite
  

• Regular learning and coaching opportunities
  

• A hybrid working model.